Scott Wykoff's Blog

Friday, May 1, 2009

A Rock Star In Owings Mills

Just ask any of the students I saw flocking to him while he was on campus at Stevenson University in Owings Mills.

Banners hanging from buildings and street lights welcoming him to their college. He's the biggest thing to come to Owings Mills since Ravens top draft pick Michael Oher was there last weekend.

Sure he's a former Presidential candidate. You bet he's CEO and President Forbes Inc. Not to mention he's the Editor of Forbes magazine. A millionaire to boot. A guy who always gets a front row seat reserved for him. Like on this day at the private college in Baltimore County.

He's all of that and more to college students. One after the other, those young people taking pictures with him and reaching out to meet him as he made his way through the crowd that came out to see him on a cool spring afternoon. The more I think about it, these students think he's cool.

They think he's entertaining. They say he's smart, but more importantly, they say Steve Forbes speaks with them and not to them. From all accounts that's what it was like when he gave a master class in business leadership to a group of Stevenson students before the dedication ceremony.

It was a standing room only crowd that turned out to see Forbes speak on Thursday as part of Stevenson University's dedication of its new School of Business and Leadership. School administration members and politicians filled the seats reserved for them in the front row, but it was a sea of Stevenson students who turned out to pack the event.

I kind of figured out why they consider Forbes a "Rock Star" as I watched him make his unscripted remarks on-stage at the ceremony. It seemed at times like he was talking right to the students. He had a message of hope for them as many will soon embark on the job market in this time of economic uncertainty. His words connected with the students. His message was heard.

Ashley Williams (above) had her picture taken with Steve Forbes. She is a Business Administration Major in the class of 2010 at Stevenson University. Ashley is from a family of 8. She is the first member of her family to go to college. She brought some in the crowd to tears (including Steve Forbes) as she spoke during the business school dedication ceremony. But it was Ashley who got choked up when she said she couldn't believe she was sharing the same stage with Steve Forbes and speaking right after him. You can tell by the picture of the two that they connected.

Even the Stevenson University Mustang mascot came out to see Steve Forbes. Much to my surprise he even looked to be excited to see me!

But when Forbes appeared, that big furry Mustang dumped me for the "Rock Star".